Material inserting machine



p 1957 e. H. DIMOND 2,805,531

MATERIAL INSERTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IINVENTOR. Geowe lipzfiorzd Sept. 10, 1957 G. H. DIMOND MATERIALINSERTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.(5:907:96 Eff/10nd Sept. 10, 1957 Fi led Dec. 10, 1954 G. H. DIMONDMATERIAL INSERTING MACHINE If i 25 77. I 76 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIIIII ]NV EN TOR.

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G. H. DIMOND 2,805,531

I MATERIAL INSERTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10. 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 6INVENTUR. Geozye fijz rflofld BY United States Patent MATERIAL INSERTINGMACHINE George H. Dimond, East Aurora, N. Y., assignor to ConsolidatedPackaging Machinery Corporation, Butfalo, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application December 10, 1954, Serial No. 474,455

16 Claims. (Ci. 53-63) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in machines for inserting individual lengths of fibrousmaterial such as cotton into completely empty or partially filledbottles, and particularly seeks to provide a novel machine of thisgeneral type which is adapted to break off individual strand lengthsfrom a continuously fed supply strand of fibrous material, to fold thestrand lengths into an inverted U-shaped, and to insert them into anypredetermined position inside the bottles with the ends of the U-shapedstrands positioned below the smooth, intermediate portions thereof.

In Patent No. 2,501,770, granted March 28, 1950, and application Ser.No. 207,363, filed January 23, 1951, now U. S. Patent No. 2,691,473,there are disclosed and claimed machines of this general type in which astrand of fibrous material such as cotton Wadding is fed in individuallengths into the necks or tops of successively presented, continuouslymoved bottles.

A machine constructed in accordance with this invention is animprovement over those disclosed and claimed in the above patent andapplication, particularly with respect to the provisions for insertingthe individual strand lengths of fibrous material into the bottles toany depth desired and to the means for folding the fibrous materialstrands into an inverted U-shape and subsequently inserting the U-shapedstrands into the bottles with the ends thereof positioned below thesmooth intermediate portions, and to means for preventing the feeding orparting of individual lengths of fibrous material when no bottle is inposition to receive them.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a machine forthe insertion of fibrous materials into partially filled or completelyempty bottles in which individual lengths are first separated from acontinuously fed strand of the fibrous material, then folded into aninverted U-shape, and inserted into continuously advanced bottles withthe ends of the fibrous material strands positioned downward below theintermediate portions thereof.

Another object is to provide a machine of the character stated in whichindividual strand lengths of fibrous material are continuously fed to aposition above a folding blade and advanced thereon by a plunger until asleeve effects the bending of the strand into an inverted U-shapethereover and the strand is then pushed by the plunger into the bottomof a bottle which has been continuously advanced to a position below theU-shaped strand in synchronization therewith.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter stated which is capable of continously positioning strands offibrous material at any predetermined depths within continuouslyadvanced bottles.

A further object is to provide a machine of the character stated whichhas sensing means to prevent the entrance of fibrous material to thebottle area when no bottles are present below the material-insertingstation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter stated which is simple in design,

"ice

. rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. 'For a better understanding of theinvention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by itsuse, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings anddescriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described apreferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a somewhat schematic perspective view of a material-insertingmachine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed elevation taken elong line3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged detail vertical section taken alongline 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. dis a fragmentary, further enlarged detail partly in section takenalong the line 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 5

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section throughthe turret of the machine;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary development of a portion of theturret showing one complete set of plunger and sleeve with a developmentof their motion by cam action;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a detailed fragmentary elevation showing the cotton asinitially positioned over the folding blade;

Fig. 14 is a detailed fragmentary elevation showing the plunger holdingthe cotton on the folding blade;

Fig. 15 is a detailed fragmentary vertical section showing the sleeve inthe process of folding the cotton over the folding blade; and

Fig. 16 is a detailed fragmentary vertical section showing the plungerin the process of positioning the cotton in a bottle.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention as illustrated isembodied in a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous strandinto either partially filled or completely empty bottles and includes abase A, a fibrous material strand-separating and -feeding mechanismgenerally indicated at B, a turret assembly generally indicated at C forperforming the material-inserting operations, an intake and dischargeconveyor generally indicated at D, and a container generally indicatedat E which holds a supply F of unbroken stranded such as cotton wadding.

The base A carries all of the driving mechanisms of the machine (notshown) including a motor which operates: the turret C, thestrand-separating and feeding mechanism B, the intake and dischargeconveyor D, a pair of upper and lower intake star wheels 5, 5, and adischarge friction faced Wheel 6, all synchronized to effect insertionof the fibrous material F into bottles 7. The driving mechanisms aregenerally similar to those disclosed in Patent No. 2,691,473, issuedOctober 12, 1954.

The intake star wheels 5, 5 are rigidly aflixed to a vertical shaft 8and are provided with four bottle-receiving pockets so that individualbottles may be moved through an arcuate path from the intake position ofthe confibrous material,

veyor D to operative association with the mechanism of the turret C. Thebottles are guided along arcuate paths during intake and discharge fromthe turret C by guide plates 9, 9 which are aflixed to the top of base Ain parallelism therewith.

The continuous strand F of cotton wadding is adapted to be withdrawnfrom its container E by the feeding mechanisms B which are carried byand driven from the shaft 8 which is operatively connected to thedriving mechanisms in the base A. The feeding mechanisms include a cover10 which is provided with an opening through which the upper portion ofthe star wheel shaft 8 extends. Keyed to the shaft 8 immediately belowthe cover 10 is a gear 11 supported on the star'wheel shaft by means ofa bearing collar 12 rigidly affixed thereto. A ball thrust bearing 13 isprovided between the cover 10 and the gear 11 to permit rotation of thegear independently of the cover. A counterweight 14 is adjustablypositioned in proximity to the feeding mechanism B and connected to thecover 10 by an adjustable arm 15. The counterweight 14 is also securedby a link 16 which is clamped to a stud 17 projecting upwardly from thebase A. By shortening or lengthening the effective lengeth of the armthe counterweight is adjustably positioned to balance the feedingmechanism which is supported on the shaft 8. 7

The gear 11 meshes with a pinion gear 18, the latter being freelyrotatable about an upstanding stationary spindle 19 which is affixed tothe lower lip of the cover 10 with the lower end of the spindleprojecting therebelow. A pentagonal plate 20 (see, Figs. 2 to 5 and 9),having a suitable apperture to pass around the spindle 19, is securedbeneath the lower lip of the cover 10 and fastened thereto by a nut 21threadably engaged on the lower end of the spindle 19. A rectangularplate 22 is secured in spaced parallel relation under the plate 20 as bya plurality of spacers 23. The spindle 19 also carries a gear 24underlying the pinion 18 which is pin-connected to the pinion in orderto rotate therewith.

The gear 24 meshes with a gear 25 mounted on the upper part of a flangedvertical shaft 26 journalled between the plates 20 and 22 in bearings27, 27. Another gear 28 is mounted on the upper part of the shaft 26below the gear 25 and meshes with a gear 29 of the same diameter mountedon a flanged vertical shaft 30 journalled in bearing blocks 31, 31slidably carried in slots formed in the outer edges of the plates 20 and22. A similar set of bearing blocks 31, 31 are carried in slots formedin the outer edges of the plates 20 and 22 in spaced parallel relationto the first set. The blocks 31 are yieldably retained in the slots by ayoke 32 and an adjustable compression spring 33.

A shaft 34 journalled in the rear set of the bearing blocks 31 and isprovided at its upper end with a gear 35 which is the same diameter asand meshes with a gear 36 fixed on a shaft 37 journalled in bearings 38.A knurled or fluted feed roll 39 is afiixed to the shaft 37 between theplates 20 and 22 and cooperates with a similar feed roll 40 aflixed tothe shaft 34. The rolls 39 and 40 constitute the rear pair of feed rollsand are intermittently stoppable, as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed. A knurled or fluted feed roll 41 is affixed to shaft 30between the plates 20 and 22 and cooperates with a similar feed roll 42afixed to shaft 26. The rolls 41 and 42 together constitute the forwardpair of feed rolls and are continuously driven by the gear 25 whichmeshes with the gear 24. The forward feed rolls are oriented with therear feed rolls to discharge cotton radially to the star wheel 89, andthe rear feed rolls are spaced behind the forward ones at a distanceapproximately double the minimum length of cotton strand which will beparted and inserted into each bottle.

'Means are provided to intermittently stop rotation of the rear pair offeed rolls 39 and 40 while permitting the forward pair of feed rolls 41and 42 to continue 4 to rotate and thereby to effect the parting orseparating of individual lengths of cotton wadding from strand F thereofsolely through tension. These means include a freely mounted gear 43which is rotated by the gear 24 and acts to rotate the shaft 37 and thegear 36 through the medium of friction washers 44 and 45 only whencompressed into driving contact therewith by a clutch mechanism.

The clutch mechanism includes a hubbed driving plate 46 which is biaseddownwardly by a spring 47 secured to the shaft 37 by a bolt 48 andwasher 49. The driving plate 46 exerts a downward pressure through afriction washer 45, gear 43 and friction washer 44 to rotate shaft 37and thereby the gears 35 and 36 during feeding operation. Parting of thecotton into individual lengths will be effected by lifting the drivingplate 46 a distance suflicient to relieve driving pressure on thewashers and gears therebelow, so as to cause the rear feed rolls to stopand the forward feed rolls to pull the cotton apart. To disengage andstop the driving plate 46 there is provided a friction washer 50 and ahubbed friction disk 51 which are cam-controlled, as will be hereinaftermore fully described.

The position of the driving plate 46 is regulated by a cam generallyindicated at 52. The cam 52 acts through a mechanism including an arm 53pivotally connected at its inner end to a stub shaft 54 which is mountedon the upper plate 20. The outer end of the arm 53 is provided with anupstanding boss 55 which carries an upwardly extending roller camfollower 56. Another arm 57 rigidly connected to the arm 53 andextending in a generally opposite direction therefrom is provided at itsouter end with a transversely disposed pin or stud 58 threadably engagedtherewith and having a flat outer end adapted to exert pressure upon aball secured to a depending arm 59 of a bell crank 60. The bell crank 60is pivoted on a shaft 61 held in place on a mounting affixed to theupper end of the shaft 54. The other arm of the bell crank 60 comprisesa yoke which spans the hub of the friction disk 51 and engages theunderside of the disk portion thereof. The yoke portion of the bellcrank 60 spans the hub of the friction disk 51, across a pair of flatson the latter (not shown) so as to prevent rotation thereof during theperiods when the rear feed rolls 39 and 40 are stopped.

In the driving position the driving plate 46 is down and the camfollower 56 rides around cam 52 on the low portion thereof. When a highspot is reached the cam fol lower moves out and through the medium ofthe arms 53 and 57, the stud 58 and the bell crank 60 and causes thefriction disk 51 and the friction washer 50 to bear against the clutchdriving-plate 46 to move it upwardly along the shaft 37 and thereby tostop its rotation and the rotation of the gear 36, the latter no longerbeing held tightly by the washer 44. It will be noted that thedriving-plate 46 is drive-connected to the shaft 37 through the mediumof a keyway and ball keys indicated at 62 which permit axial movement ofthe driving-plate along its associated shaft. The gear 43 will then bepermitted to' rotate freely between the Washers 44 and 45 withoutdriving the gears 36 and 35 and the associated feed rolls 39 and 41).

The cam 52 as shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 comprises three identicaldisks 64, 65 and 66, each of which has equal high, medium and lowperipheral arcs. Each disk has an equal arc of high cam having a largeradius, an equal arc of intermediate cam having an intermediate radius,and an equal arc of low cam having a small radius. The disks are clampedbetween two supporting sleeves, an upper one 67 and a lower one 68, andare held tightly therebetween as by tightening bolts 70. The uppersleeve is fixed to the spindle 18 by means of a set screw 60. Beforeinsertion between the sleeves the disks may be rotated relative to oneanother so as to present a desired effective contour or cam travel pathover which the follower 56 must travel. The disks are then held in thisposition by suitable locking pins which fit into a respective notch on adisk below and on the lower supporting sleeve 68. The follower is deeperthan the thickness of the three disks combined, so that the travel ofthe follower will be determined by the peripheral profile of the highand medium arcs in combination, the low arcs being blanked ofi by thelower supporting sleeve 68. The disks are rotated relative to oneanother any time it is desired to change the timing at which the rearfeed rolls 39 and 40 are stopped or rotated by the action of the camfollower acting through the clutch mechanism described above. The longerthe peripheral distance along the high lift portions of the cam 52 thelonger will be the stopping period of the rear feed rolls during eachcycle. Referring to Fig. 7, it can be seen that changing the position ofthe top disk 66 will be suflicient to change cam timing.

In accordance with the invention means are provided whereby cottonstrand feeding will cease whenever for any reason whatever there is nobottle advancing toward the filling station. These means include arelatively small diameter, vertically reciprocable U-shaped sensing wire71 having one leg 72 extending upwardly alongside the cover and theother leg 73 extending upwardly through the hollow spindle 19. Each legis free to move vertically and the one inside the spindle 19 is providedat its upper end with a blocker cap 74. The blocker cap is bell-shapedand has a flanged base. It is slidably mounted on a flanged collarthreadably secured to the upper edge of the arm 73 as at 75. Thehorizontal web portion of the sensing wire 71 is normally positionedabove the bottles on the feeding line so that the weight of the wire issupported by each successive bottle as it moves underneath. When thereis no bottle feeding below the sensing wire the wire drops by gravity sothat the flanged blocker cap falls behind the cam follower 56 as soon asthe cam follower hits a high spot on the cam. The flanged portion of theblocker cap having a radius substantially equal to the radius of thehigh lift portion of the cam 52 then prevents the follower from movinginto contact with the low portion of the cam, and in such a position therear feed rolls 39 and 40 do not rotate. The forward feed rolls 41 and42 continue to rotate, but after the previously parted strand is fedthrough there will no longer be any cotton in position for furtherfeeding by the forward rolls owing to the fact that the rear feed rollsare not advancing the cotton to them. When a bottle again comes intoposition in contact with the sensing wire 71 the blocker cap at the endthereof is raised out of contact with the cam follower 56 to permit thecam 52 to become effective and resume feeding of the strand.

The cotton leaving the forward feed rolls 4] and 42 comes into operativeassociation with mechanism carried by the turret C. The turret assemblyC includes a vertically extending main turret spindle 80 which isrigidly carried by the base A. A wheel 82 is rigidly fastened to thelower hub portion of a hubbed sleeve 83 and is rotated about the spindle80 by mechanism operated by a motor in the base A (not shown). Aradially extending table 84 is mounted on the sleeve 83 by means of acollar which permits rotation of the sleeve 83 therein. The table 84 isheld against rotation relative to the shaft 80 and the sleeve 83 by aretaining bar 85 rigidly affixed thereto and to a stud 85a extendingupwardly from the base A.

As an individual strand length leaves the forward feed rolls 41 and 42(see Fig. 9) it is projected onto the folding table 84. The foldingtable 84 is disposed in alignment with the radially inwardly fed cottonstrand and is provided with a cotton strand feed stop 86 adjustablymounted in a slot thereon. A curved or arcuate folding blade 87 has itscenter of curvature at the center of the shaft 89 and overlies theinitial portion of the path of travel of the containers entering theturret C and into which cotton is to be inserted. The folding blade 87is aifixed to the folding table 84 at a position spaced slightlyinwardly '6" from the discharge of the forward feed rolls 41 and 42. Theends of the folding blade 87 extend laterally beyond the edges of thefolding table 84.

The top of the shoulder wheel 82 provides a peripheral ledge for thesupport of bottles into which wadding is to be inserted. An annularsegmented plate-type star wheel 88 having four peripheral pockets isremovably aflixed to the shoulder portion of the sleeve 83. The starwheel pockets are shaped to conform to the body configuration ofcontainers or bottles upon which the work functions are to be performed.A similar star wheel 89 having four pockets in registry with the pocketsof star wheel 88 is removably aflixed to a mounting sleeve 90 which isin turn slidably mounted on the upstanding sleeve 83 and is preventedfrom rotary movement with respect thereto by suitable slideway and keyconnections and held from Vertical movement with respect thereto by asuitable set screw. A lower spindle 91 is rigidly afiixed to the upperend of the sleeve 83.

The upper end of the spindle 80 is provided with an externally threadedsleeve 92 which rotates in respect thereto and is positioned above anupper spindle plate 93. The upper spindle plate 93 can rotate freelyabout the spindle 80. It is held in spaced relation to the spindle plate91 by means to be described hereinafter.

A hubbed plate 94 is threaded onto the sleeve 92 and is provided with anabutment annulus 95 which provides a lower stop for the plungers 101 and113 in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. A cylindricalcasing 96 extends upwardly from the outer edge of the lower spindleplate 91. It is covered by a plate 97 which has a hub portion which fitsinto and is locked in place on the sleeve 92 as by a dowel pin. Theturret wheel 82, the star wheels 88 and 89, the cover plate 97, the disk95 and the spindle plates 91 and 93 all rotate as a unit about thespindle 80.

Mechanisms are carried inside the turret for first effecting an initialholding of the separated strand of cotton as it is fed from the forwardfeed rolls 41 and 42 onto the folding table. The turret mechanisms thenact to advance the strand along the arcuate folding blade 87 outwardlyfrom the folding table 84 in the direction the bottles are advancing inthe' pockets of star wheels 88 and 89. Means are provided for foldingthe'cotton over the folding blade and then positioning each foldedstrand in proximity to the top of an associated bottle and finally forinserting the folded strand well down into the bottle towards the bottomthereof. To this end the turret assembly is provided with four sets ofmechanisms (corresponding to the number of pockets of the star wheels 88and 89), all of which are identical in structure. Accordingly, forconvenience herein a detailed description will be made of only one ofthese assemblies, and it will be appreciated that the remainder arealike.

A vertically reciprocable carrier sleeve 100, having an internal carrierspindle 101 slidably fitted therein, is journalled in suitable beatingsin the plates 91 and 93. The carrier spindle 101 is provided at itslower end with a short horizontal plate 102 which is rigidly afixedthereto and extends outwardly at a right angle to the end thereof.Bolted to the outer end of the casting 102 is a vertically extendingfolding cylinder or sleeve member 103; The folding sleeve membercomprises a vertically extending cylinder 103 which is slit at twoopposite sides from the bottom edge upwardly along its height. The slitsare cut to conform to the curvature of the folding blade 87 and arearranged so that when the sleeve member 103 is reciprocated the foldingblade 87 will extend into the slits thereof as it comes down over theblade. In addition to the folding sleeve member the plate 102 carries anadjustable threaded stud stop 104 which is positioned near the inneredge thereof and extends downwardly towards star wheel 89 with which thestop comes into contact at the lower limit of travel of the carrierspindle 101.

The central portion of the sleeve carrier 100 is provided with a casting105 carried thereon and releasably secured as through the use ofclamping bolt 106. The inner face of the casting 105 is provided with aroller cam follower 107. A flanged-base hub 108 is adjustably secured tothe spindle and carries a pair of concentrically arranged inner andouter cylindrical cams, 109 and 110, respectively, each provided with aninternally extending flange portion which are together clamped onto theflanged base of the hub 108 as through clamp ring and bolt connections,indicated at 111. The roller cam follower 107 is adapted to engage thecam 109 as it rotates around the latter. a

The cylinder cam 110 is adapted to cause the reciprocation of a plungersleeve 112 having an internal plunger spindle 113 slidably fittedtherein. The plunger sleeve 112 is mounted for vertical reciprocatingmotion in suitable bearings in spindle plates 91 and 93 similarly to thecarrier sleeve 100. The plunger spindle 113, has a flanged lower end orplunger 113a of a size which permits its insertion into the sleevemember 103. The central portion of the plunger sleeve 112 is providedwith an adjustably positioned casting 114 slidably carried thereon andreleasably secured as through the use of a clamping bolt. The casting114 is provided with an inwardly extending roller cam follower 115adapted to engage the cylinder cam 110.

The carrier spindle 101 and the plunger spindle 113 are each providedwith washer or flanged stops 116 at the upper extremities thereof. Thesewasher stops 116 are made of a larger diameter than the associatedcarrier and plunger sleeves 100 and 112 so that the downward travel ofthe spindles will be limited by the abutment annulus 95. When desiredthe hubbed plate 94 can be adjustably rotated so that the lower limit ofmovement of the spindles can be set as desired. The hubbed plate 94 withits abutment annulus may be adjustably positioned at any height alongthe sleeve 92. With this provision and the provisions for adjustablypositioning the star wheel 89 along the height of the spindle 80 it ispossible to adapt the machine to bottles of diflerent heights or to varythe depth of insertion of individual strands into bottles of the sameheight. I e

The stud stop 104 functions similarly to the washer stops 116 bycontacting the star wheel 89 to establish a lower limit for the carrierspindle 101 and in addition acts to insure that the bottles 7 will notbe chipped or broken by contact with the descending sleeve member 103The carrier and plunger spindles 101 and 113 normally move with theirrespective sleeves in accordance with the indicated movement of the cams109 and 110. However, each is slidable in its sleeve so that wheneverobjects, such as the bottle or the cotton strand, which might resist ordeter movement, are encountered bydevices carried by either, theafiected spindle may move upwardly relative to its sleeve as the sleevecontinues to move downwardly by gravity under the control of its cam.Since the movement is caused by the downward action of gravity or theupward lift of the cam, it is always gentle and no breakage will occur.

A pusher spindle 117 is afiixed to the turret C so as to dependtherefrom into close proximity with the folding table 84. The pusherspindle 117 is positioned close to the carrier sleeve 103 and theplunger 113a and is provided with a curved pusher plate 118 at the lowerend thereof which trails the carrier sleeve and the plunger duringoperative rotation of the turret C and acts to push cotton along thefolding blade 87 in conjunction with the plunger 113a. Verticallydisposed cylindrical studs 119 are fastened between the spindle plate 91and the upper spindle plate 93 and are positioned between each set ofcarrier and plunger sleeves and 112. The studs 119 maintain the spacingand rigid alignment of the spindle plates 91 and 93. The studs 119 areslidably engaged by the opposed ends of the castings and v "8 114 toprevent rotation of thereby maintain the axes of the cam rollers 107 andin radial relation to the cams 109 and 110. .One of the studs 119 issubstituted for by a rod 120 having a smaller portion which extends bothupwardly through the upper spindle plate 93 into a hole provided in thecover 97 and downwardly through a hole in the spindle plate 91. Thecentral wide portion is shorter than the distance between the plates 91and 93 and is spring-biased upwardly against the upper spindle plate 93.The rod 120 normally locks the upper cover and its associated parts tothe lower portion of the turret for rotation therewith, but it may bemanually pulled downwardly to disengage its upper end from the cover 97.The cover 97 may then be rotated and its rotation will result inrelative rotation of the threaded sleeve 92 which will change theposition of the abutment annulus 95 as the hubbed plate 9 is thrcadablymoved along the sleeve 92.

The bottles or containers 7 into which individual lengths of cottonwadding are to be inserted are fed into and discharged from the machinethrough the conveyor D which is a straight-line conveyor extendingacross the front of the machine. The conveyor D essentially comprises aconveyor belt or chain 121 carried upon suitable pulleys or sprocketwheels and driven through mechanisms located in base A. Two pairs ofspaced guide rails 122, 122 and 123, 123, an intake pair and a dischargepair, respectively, are adjustably supported in a position overlying theconveyor belt 121 as through the medium of a plurality of supportinglugs 124 which are in turn carried by vertically disposed horizontallyextending conveyor mounting plates 125 and 126 (see Fig. l).

The bottles are directed along the conveyor to the intake star wheels 5.Each successive bottle is picked up in a pocket of the star wheel 5where it is rotated until picked up by the pockets of the star wheels $8and 39. The guide plate 9 aids in directing individual bottles throughthe proper arcuate paths of travel from one machine portion to the otherafter they leave the intake of the conveyor. The guide rails 122 arecurved near the star wheel in order to direct the bottles into thesuccessively appearing pockets. One edge portion of the guide plate 9 iscurved to conform with the radius of the star wheels 5, and the oppositeedge is curved to conform with the radius of curvature of the dischargefriction face wheel 6. The turret assembly C is provided with arcuateguide means, spaced around the star wheels 33 and 89 thereof andcomprising a guide rail 127 carried by a pair of horizontally disposed,radially extending supporting studs 128, 128 (partially shown in Fig.2).

While the operation of a machine constructed in accordance with thisinvention should be readily apparent from the foregoing description itis believed that clearer understanding of the invention may be had ifone complete cycle of operation is described.

A line of bottles 7 (empty in this instance) into the bottoms of whichindividual pieces of cotton wadding are to be inserted is supplied tothe intake end of the conveyor D. The leading bottle of the line isurged against the curved periphery of star Wheels 5 until it is engagedby one of the pockets thereof. As viewed in Fig 2 of the drawings thestar wheels 5 are rotated in a counterclockwise direction. As the bottleis being moved under the influence of the star wheelsS the rear pair offeed rolls 39 and 40 and the front pair of feed rolls 41 and 42 areconstantly driven to withdraw the strand F of cotton wadding from itscontainer E.

As the bottle-containing pockets of the star wheels 5 approach registrywith the star wheels 38 and 89 the cam 52 is rotated to a position inwhich the roller cam foilower 56 is engaged on ahigh lift portionthereof and the clutch-driving plate 46 is disengaged to thereby stopthe rotation of the rear feed rolls 39 and 4%. The forward 7 feed rolls.1 and '42 continue feed movement and therethe sleeves 100 and 112 and'9 project it into alignment over the. folding blade 87 mounted on thefolding table 84.

As the bottle is being fed around under the influence of the rotary starwheels the turret is rotating and a position on cam 110 is reached atwhich the plunger sleeve and spindle begin to descent. Referring to Fig.11 it is seen that at the 315 position of the turret the cotton is fedover the folding blade 87 onto the folding table 84, and the plungersleeve descends until the plunger spindle 113 and the plunger 113a comeinto con-tact with the cotton strand (see Figs. 13 and 14). As rotationcontinues the plunger holds the cotton on the folding blade and moves itin the direction of turret rotation off the table 84. The pusher 118prevents the cotton from becoming displaced out of vertical alignmentwith the plunger 113a. At this point the sleeve member 1'03 at the endof the carrier plunger 101 is permitted to descend under the influenceof the cam 109 and effect folding of the cotton over the folding blade87 (see Fig. 15).

The bottle, meanwhile, has come into registry with star wheels 88 and 89and is gradually moved around the turret base as the carrier sleeve 100moves downwardly until the sleeve member 103 comes into proximity withthe mouth of the bottle and is stopped by the stop 104. At the 0 or 360position the plunger sleeve 112 is lifted slightly as shown in thedevelopment of the cam in Fig. 11 to permit the cotton to be readilyfreed from its engagement with the folding blade 87 and then it descendsto insert the cotton into the bottom of the bottle. The plunger 113a issufiiciently heavy to force the cotton down towards the bottom of thebottle, but when resistance offered by the walls or bottom of the bottleon the cotton becomes greater than the effective gravitational forceapplied by the plunger, the plunger will stop its downward movement andthe sleeve 112 will move downwardly relatively thereto under the controlof its cam 110. As the bottle is advanced around the turret the camcauses the sleeves and spindles to rise out of contact with the bottleand the bottle is discharged at about the 240 position of turretrotation and advanced to the friction faced discharge wheel 6. Thefriction faced discharge wheel 6 moves the bottle around the guide plate9 by revolving it along the periphery thereof by friction contact. (Thisis possible only with round bottles. With other shapes a star wheel isemployed.) The bottle then moves out to the conveyor D at the dischargesection thereof between guide rails 123.

Thus it will be seen that the invention herein disclosed provides anovel machine for the automatic folding of strands of cotton waddinginto an inverted U-shape and for the subsequent insertion of the foldedstrands into either the necks, bottoms or any desired position insidesuccessively presented bottles, While the bottles are moved continuouslywithout interruption through work-performing positions of the machine.The machine provides for the separating of cotton wadding purely bytension from a continuous strand into individual lengths of cotton whichare automatically moved into registry with a bottle, folded andpositioned therein. In addition, novel means are provided toautomatically stop feeding and separating of the cotton strand whenevera bottle is not in proper registry.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventionprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

I claim:

1. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto containers, the combination of means for continuously moving aseries of bottles, means for supplying a series of individual lengths offibrous material for insertion into said bottles, means for folding saidindividual lengths of fibrous material into an inverted 16 U shape, andmeans for effecting the insertion of an individual folded length offibrous material into each successively presented bottle.

2. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto containers, the combination of a continuously rotating turret,means for successively presenting a series of containers to said turretin properly timed relation, means for feeding individual lengths offibrous material radially to said turret, means for folding said fibrousmaterial into an inverted U shape and for moving the same into registrywith the top of an associated container, and means for inserting saidfolded fibrous material into said container.

3. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto containers, the combination of a continuously rotating turret,means for successively presenting a series of containers to said turretin properly timed relation, a stationary arcuate folding bladepositioned over a portion of the path of travel of said containers asthey are being advanced by said turret, means for feeding individuallengths of fibrous material transversely onto said folding blade, meansfor folding said fibrous material over said folding blade, and means forinserting said fibrous material into each of said successively presentedcontainers.

4. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto container, the combination of a continuously rotating turret, meansfor successively presenting a series of containers to said turret inproperly timed relation, a fixed material-supporting table positionedover a portion of the path of travel of said containers, an arcuatefolding blade afiixed to said table and extending therebeyond in thedirection of rotation of said turret and coincident with the path oftravel of the center line of said container, means for feedingindividual lengths of fibrous material to a position on said tabletransversely of said folding blade, means for advancing each individuallength of fibrous material in the direction of turret rotation alongsaid blade, means for folding said individual lengths of fibrousmaterial over said blade, and means for inserting said individual foldedlengths of fibrous material into an associated container.

5. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto containers, the combination of means for continuously moving aseries of bottles, normally cont nuously operable means for feeding aseries of individual lengths of fibrous material for insertion into saidbottles, means for effecting the insertion of an individual length offibrous material into each successively presented bottle, means tocontrol the operation of said feeding means, sensing means positioned inthe incoming path of travel of said bottles and connected to saidcontrol means and effective when bottles are present to cause saidcontrol means to operate said feeding means and when no bottles arepresent to cause said control means to render said feeding meansinoperative.

6. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto containers, the combination of means for continuously moving aseries of bottles, normally continuously operable means for feeding aseries of individual lengths of fibrous material for insertion into saidbottles, means for folding said individual lengths of fibrous material,means for effecting the insertion of an individual folded length offibrous material into each successively presented bottle, means tocontrol the operation of said feeding means, sensing means positioned inthe incoming path of travel of said bottles and connected to saidcontrol means and effective with bottles are present to cause saidcontrol means to operate said feeding means and when no bottles arepresent to cause said control means to render said feeding meansinoperative.

7. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto containers, the combination of a main frame, means for continuouslymoving a series of bottles, a rear pair of feed rolls mounted on saidmain frame for withdrawing a' continuous strand of fibrous material froma supply thereof, a front pair of feed rolls mounted on said main framein' spaced relation to said rear feed rolls, means to drive both pairsof feed rolls, cam controlled means for periodically stopping said rearpair of feed rolls whereby to part individual lengths of fibrousmaterial from a continuous strand thereof, sensing means positioned inthe incoming path of travel of said bottles and connected to saidcam-controlled means and effective to stop said rear feed rolls when nobottles are present, and means for effecting insertion of an individuallength of fibrous material into each successively presented bottle.

8. in a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto the bottom portions of containers, means for withdrawing acontinuous strand of fibrous material from a supply thereof, means forcontinuously moving a series of bottles, means for parting individuallengths of fibrous material from the continuous strand thereof, andmeans for first folding each individual length of fibrous material intoan inverted U shape and for thereafter effecting the insertion of eachsuch folded length into the bottom portion of each successivelypresented bottle.

9. in a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto containers, the combination of a rear pair of feed rolls forWithdrawing a continuous strand of fibrous material from a supplythereof, a front pair of, feed rolls for further feeding said strand,means to drive both pairs of feed rolls, means for periodically stoppingsaid rear pair of feed rolls whereby to cause said front pair of feedrolls to part purely by tension successive individual lengths ofmaterial from said continuous strand, means for continuously moving aseries of bottles, and means for folding the individual lengths ofmaterial into inverted U shape and for effecting the insertion of eachsuch folded individual length into each successively presented bottle.

it). in a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto containers, the combination of a main frame, a rear pair of feedrolls mounted on said main frame for withdrawing a continuous strand ofmaterial from a supply thereof, a front pair of feed rolls mounted onsaid main frame in spaced relation to said rear feed rolls, means todrive both pairs of feed rolls, means for periodically stopping saidrear pair of feed rolls to part purely by tension successive individuallengths of material from said continuous strand due to the continuedoperation of said front feed rolls and to project each of saidindividual lengths into position for folding and insertion intosuccessively presented bottles, a continuously rotating turret supportedon said main frame and located adjacent said feed rolls in such positionthat material-folding and inserting devices carried thereby will passthrough a position in registry with successively projecting strandlengths, means for successively moving individual bottles through aposition in registry with each of said projecting strand lengths,material-folding and inserting devices operatively associated with saidturret and effective to fold each said individual strand length into aninverted U-shape and to move it from its initially projected positionand to insert it into an associated bottle, and means for Withdrawingsuccessively packed bottles from said turret.

11. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto the bottom portion of bottles, a main frame, a rear pair of feedrolls mounted on said main frame for withdrawing a continuous strand offibrous material from a supply thereof, a front pair of feed rollsmounted on said main frame in spaced relation to said rear feed rolls,means to frictionally drive said rear feed rolls, means to positivelydrive said front pair of feed rolls, cam-controlled means forperiodically stopping said rear feed rolls whereby to part by tensionindividual lengths of fibrou material from the continuous strandthereof, means for continuously moving a plurality of bottles, sensingmeans positioned in the incoming path of travel of said bottles andconnected to said cam-controlled means and effective when no bottles arepresent to cause said cam-controlled means to stop said rear feed rolls,and means for folding each individual length of fibrous material andinserting the same into the bottom of each'successively presentedbottle.

12. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto containers, the combination of a continuously rotating turret,means for successively presenting a series of containers to said turretin properly timed relation, a fixed material-supporting table positionedover a portion of the path of travel of said containers, an arcuatefolding blade'affixed to said table and extending therebeyond in thedirection of rotation of said t .rret and coincident with the path oftravel of the center line of said containers, means for feedingindividual lengths of fibrous material to a position on said tableransversely of said folding blade, a vertically recipro cablecam-actuated plunger in said turret effective during a portion ofrotation of said turret to hold said individual length of fibrousmaterial on said folding blade while the movement of said plunger movessaid individual length of fibrous material along said blade in thedirection of turret rotation, and means for folding said individuallength of fibrous material over said blade, said plunger being effectiveafter said individual length of fibrous material has been folded andduring further rotation of said turret to insert said folded lengths offibrous material into an associated container and thereafter to withdrawupwardly from said container.

13. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto containers, the combination of a continuously rotating turret,means for successively presenting a series of containers to said turretin properly timed relation, a fixed material-supporting table positionedover a portion of the path of travel of said containers, an arcuatefolding blade afiixed to said table and extending therebeyond in thedirection of rotation of said turret and coincident with the path oftravel of the center line of said container, means for feedingindividual lengths of fibrous material to a position on said tabletransversely of said folding blade, means for advancing each individuallength of fibrous material in the direction of turret rotation alongsaid blade, a vertically reciprocable sleeve member carried by saidturret and having opposed slots extending upwardly from the bottomthereof and being efiective during a portion of rotation of said turretto descend over said folding blade whereby to fold said individuallength of fibrous material thereover, and means thereafter effective forinserting said individual folded lengths of fibrous material into anassociated container.

14. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto containers, the combination of a continuously rotating turret,means for successively presenting a series of containers to said turretin properly timed relation, a fixed material supporting table positionedover a portion of the path of'travel of said containers, an arcuatefolding blade afiixed to said table and extending therebeyond in thedirection of rotation of said turret and coincident With the path oftravel of the center line of said container, means for feedingindividual lengths of fibrous material to a position on said tabletransversely of said folding blade, a vertically reciprocablecam-actuated plunger in said turret effective during a portion ofrotation of said turret to hold said individual length of fibrousmaterial on said folding blade while the movement of the turret causessaid individual lengths of fibrous material to be advanced underpressure of said plunger along said folding blade in the direction ofturret rotation, a vertically reciprocable sleeve member carried by saidturret and having opposed slots extending upwardly from the bottomthereof and being effective during a portion of rotation of said turretto descend over said folding blade whereby to fold said individuallength of fibrous material thereover, said plunger being effective aftersaid individual length of fibrous material has been folded and duringfurther rotation of said turret to remove the folded material from saidsleeve member and to insert the same into an associated container andthereafter to withdraw upwardly from said container.

15. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto containers, the combination of a continuously rotating turret,means for successively presenting a series of containers to said turretin properly timed relation, a fixed material supporting table positionedover a portion of the path of travel of said containers, an arcuatefolding blade aflixed to said table and extending therebeyond in thedirection of rotation of said turret and coincident With the path oftravel of the :center line of said container, means for feedingindividual lengths of fibrous material to a position on said tabletransversely of said folding blade, a vertically reciprocablecam-actuated plunger in said turret effective during a portion ofrotation of said turret to hold said individual length of fibrousmaterial on said folding blade While the movement of the turret causessaid individual lengths of fibrous material to be advanced underpressure of said plunger along said folding blade in the direction ofturret rotation, means for preventing said individual lengths of fibrousmaterial from being displaced from beneath said plunger as it isadvanced along said folding blade, a vertically reciprocable sleevemember carried by said turret and having opposed slots extendingupwardly from the bottom thereof and being effective during a portion ofrotation of said turret to descend over said folding blade whereby tofold said individual length of fibrous material thereover, said plungerbeing effective after said individual length of fibrous material hasbeen folded and during further rotation of said turret to remove thefolded material from said sleeve member and to insert the same into anassociated container and thereafter to withdraw upwardly from saidcontainer.

16. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous materialinto containers, the combination of a continuously rotating turret,means for successively presenting a series of containers to said turretin properly timed relation, a fixed material-supporting table positionedover a portion of the path of travel of said containers, an ancuatefolding blade affixed to said table and extending therebeyond in thedirection of rotation of said turret and coincident with the path oftravel of the center line of said container, means for feedingindividual lengths of fibrous material to a position on said tabletransversely of said folding blade, means for advancing each individuallength of fibrous material in the direction of turret rotation alongsaid blade and for folding said individual lengths of fibrous materialover said blade and for thereafter inserting said individual foldedlengths of fibrous material into an associated container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,171,572 Kelly Sept. 5, 1939 2,304,932 Laliso Dec. 15, 1942 2,691,473Gantzer Oct. 12, 1954

